Bulk handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for stacking newspapers is disclosed which obviates the need to fasten individual stacks. Once ejected from a stacking device, stacks of newspapers pass through an assembly station where they are arranged into groups of three, called slugs, and compressed. The slug then enters a collector where a layer consisting of four slugs is positioned on a sliding table. This positioning requires lateral movement of slugs. Lateral support is provided throughout this movement to prevent the stacks from toppling over. Once a full layer has been accumulated, the sliding table is retracted, and the layer of newspapers falls onto a floating table below. This floating table, which serves as the bottom floor of the container in which it is housed, is automatically lowered by discrete amounts as layers are received. Extendible cylinders located below the collector vertically move the floating table. Since the four walls of the container provide the requisite lateral support, layers of unfastened stacks are able to be securely deposited on the floating table. Once the full container is removed from the collector, a fork lift raises the floating table by inserting its prongs into a gap created between the floating table and the open bottom of the container. In another aspect of the invention, bottom copy damage associated with lateral movement of newspapers is reduced by positioning the stacks so that the nose of the bottom group of newspapers in each stack points in the ultimate direction of lateral movement.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 08/650,918 filed May 17,1996, now Pat. No. 5,769,600.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically loadingnewspapers into a container device in order to facilitate large-scalemovement of newspaper stacks.

2. Art Background

Despite the emergence of computer networks that afford access to vastamounts of information, people still rely heavily on newspapers toprovide them with the daily news and other materials. Part of thecontinuing appeal of newspapers are their relatively low cost to theconsumer. The increasing cost of paper to newspaper manufacturersthreatens to increase the amount they must charge consumers fornewspapers. To attempt to hold down costs, newspaper manufacturers mustlook for more efficient methods of making and distributing newspapers.

The assembly and stacking of newspapers is one aspect of themanufacturing and distribution process where efficiency could beimproved. To distribute newspapers, manufacturers must first stacknewspapers to facilitate transportation. Prior art methods of assemblingand stacking newspapers entail great expense because, according to thesemethods, stacks of newspapers must be tied with fasteners such asplastic wrap, sheet wrap, plastic strips or the like. The material usedfor these fasteners is expensive, especially in the large quantities inwhich they are needed for newspapers. Further, the newspapers frequentlymust have local sections inserted after the newspapers leave theassembly and stacking area, requiring the time consuming and costly stepof removing the fasteners before a handler can access the papers withina stack to make the requisite insertions.

The need for fasteners arises due to the inherent instability ofnewspaper stacks. According to the prior art, a stacking machine ejectsnewspapers in stacks approximately fourteen inches in height. Groups ofstacks are gathered, arranged and dropped a short distance onto a flatsurface, known as a pallet, upon which the newspapers will be moved.Prior art pallets do not provide lateral support and the stacks wouldthus lose their form without the lateral support provided by thefasteners. Further, the gathering and arranging of these stacks oftenentails lateral movement of the stacks, which would cause the stacks tofall apart without fasteners. Thus, the prior art methods requirefasteners. Another problem in prior art newspaper handlers is bottomcopy damage resulting from lateral movements. Prior methods alleviatethis problem by using bottom sheets. This presents yet anotherconsumable into the process, and adds an element of complexity if theinserts need to be added.

Thus, there is a need for an improved apparatus to handle and processbulk quantities of newspapers whereby stacks of papers need not befastened together to be loaded onto a bulk holder such as a pallet, andwhere bottom copy damage is minimized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses these aforementioned problems byproviding a novel apparatus for stacking and handling stacks ofnewspapers which does not require that individual stacks be fastenedduring the assembly and stacking of the newspapers.

According to the present invention, stacks of newspapers are ejectedfrom a stacking device onto a conveyor belt. These stacks aretransported via the conveyor to a first assembly station, whichcomprises two conditioner plates, positioned in parallel on the twosides of the conveyor. Two protruding collector gates extend at the endof the assembly and stop a stack of newspapers from continuing on theconveyor to the next station. Once three stacks have been accumulated inthe assembly station, the conditioner plates are powered to squeeze thestacks in order to assure their integrity. The collector gates are thenlowered, and the three stacks, called a "slug," are permitted to pass tothe next station while travelling in unison.

The slug enters a second assembly station, called the buffer station.The buffer station is physically identical to the first assemblystation. However, it is generally inactive, its collector gates arenormally not extended. Thus, typically, slugs are permitted to passthrough the buffer station unmolested. However, when necessary, thisstation is activated by extending the collector gates and compressingthe slug. For example, the buffer station would be activated when therate of newspaper ejection from the stacker is too high in relation tothe processing capacity of the rest of the apparatus.

After passing the buffer station the slug reaches the end of thisconveyor line, and enters the collector. In the collection chamber apusher plate slides the slug, in a direction perpendicular to its lineof travel on the conveyor, onto a movable table which covers acontainer. The newspapers have been stacked such that the nose of thepapers in the bottom half of the stack faces in the direction of lateralmovement of the stack within the collection chamber. This minimizesbottom page damage caused by the friction between the paper and themovable table. The papers in the top half of the stack are situated inopposite fashion in order to balance the stack.

The movable table extends from its home position in four successivesteps corresponding to the four sets of slugs which arrive on theconveyor to form a layer. After the pusher plate pushes each slug ontothe sliding table, it returns to its home position. Once four slugs havebeen pushed onto the movable table the layer is complete. At this point,the set of twelve stacks (four slugs) is compressed in a four wallchamber consisting of the pusher plate, a compression plate, a fixedwall, and a movable back plate which is attachable to the movable table.The movable table is then returned to its home position, therebydropping the four slugs a short distance onto a floating board housedwithin a container which stores multiple layers of stacks.

The floating board is a static board of slightly smaller dimensions thanthe container in which it is housed. It is automatically loweredresponsive to the receipt of a layer of stacks from the movable tableabove it. A pneumatic device situated below the collection chambercontrols the vertical movement of the board. The container isconstructed with an inward extending ledge at the bottom of thecontainer and stand-offs positioned on the ledge to support the floatingboard above the bottom of the container. Thus, even in rest position,the floating board is elevated above the bottom of the container. Thisadvantageously creates a gap between the floating board and the bottomof the container which allows a fork lift to insert its prongs andelevate the floating board when the container is removed from thecollector. Thus, an operator can readily access the newspapers storedwithin the container.

In operation, the floating board is gradually lowered within thecontainer as successive layers of slugs are stacked on top of it.Initially, when no layers have been stored on the floating board, it iselevated to a height within three inches of the movable table. As eachlayer is dropped on top of the board, it is sequentially lowered by adistance equal to the height of a stack of newspapers. Thus, the shortdistance between the movable table and the top of the pallet ismaintained constant throughout operation.

Maintaining a short free fall distance is imperative since the stacksare untied. Obviously, as the free fall distance becomes greater, thelikelihood of the stacks maintaining their form decreases. Prior artbulk handlers tied each individual stack in order to maintain theintegrity of the stacks. The present invention obviates the need to tieor wrap individual stacks by maintaining a short free fall distance, andby taking advantage of the container walls which provide lateral supportfor the stacks once they are deposited on the floating board.

Once the container is filled it is transported from the collector areato the nester via a conveyor. The container is raised to a sufficientheight to enable a second container to be positioned underneath it. Bothcontainers can then be moved simultaneously from the nesting area into atruck.

In another aspect of the invention, the stacks are ejected from thestacker such that the newspapers constituting the bottom half of thestack are automatically configured with the nose end of the fold facingthe direction of travel along the movable table. Lateral movements ofnewspapers can damage the bottom copy of a stack. However, the damagingeffects of lateral movements are minimized by positioning the bottomhalf of each stack of newspapers in such a fashion. Further, the use ofa conveyor mat with an extremely low coefficient of friction furtherminimizes bottom copy damage as the papers are transported from thestacking device to the collector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent to those skilled in the art to which itpertains upon a consideration of the following description takentogether with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a bulk handler in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates three stacks of newspapers entering the assemblystation;

FIG. 3 illustrates the compression of stacks of newspapers within theassembly station;

FIGS. 4-7 illustrate the process by which stacks of newspapers areloaded onto the movable table;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the collection chamber when it is at capacity;

FIG. 9 illustrates the removal of the movable table and its stacksfalling onto the floating board below;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the container with one layer ofstacks on top of the floating board;

FIG. 11 illustrates the loading of a second layer of stacks on top of afirst layer on the floating board;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the container when it is full;

FIG. 13 illustrates the conveyor line connecting the collector to thenesting device;

FIG. 14 illustrates how a forklift removes the containers from thenesting device;

FIG. 15 illustrates a lift raising the floating table to elevate the toplevel of newspapers above the container top; and

FIG. 16 is an overhead view of the bottom of the container.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The bulk handling apparatus of the present invention is illustrated inFIG. 1. Newspapers are ejected onto a conveyor belt 1 from a stackingdevice. These stacks are, according to the preferred embodiment,approximately fourteen inches high. This height is dictated by thecapacity of the stacking device, and it is to be understood by thoseskilled in the art that this invention can readily be applied to tallerstacks should future stacking devices permit. According to the preferredembodiment of the present invention, the conveyor belt has a plastic maptop which has a very low coefficient of friction in order to minimizebottom copy damage. Presently, plastic tops by Intralox and RexCorporation are preferred.

Once ejected onto the conveyor 1, the stacks are transported to assemblystation 3 which is positioned close to the stacking device to minimizethe distance that loose stacks have to travel without lateral support.FIG. 2 depicts three individual stacks of newspapers 35 entering theassembly station 3. Assembly station 3 is comprised of two conditionerplates 5 positioned in parallel along the side of conveyor belt 1, threesensors 9 closely aligned to one of the conditioner plates 5, and twopneumatic drivers 11 coupled to each conditioner plate 5. Collectorgates 12 are positioned at the end of the assembly station 3. Thesegates 12 protrude from the edge of the conveyor belt 1 and preventstacks from passing until they are lowered.

As shown in FIG. 2, the stacks 35 are arranged differently on the topand bottom halves. The bottom half 37 is stacked with the nose of thepaper facing one direction, and the top half 39 has the nose facing inthe opposite direction. This evens the height of the stack since thenose side of a newspaper is slightly higher than the edge side. Thebottom half 37 always has the nose facing a certain direction, as willbe described later in conjunction with the collection chamber 22, inorder to minimize bottom copy damage.

Stacks that enter the assembly station 3 are stopped by collector gates12. Once a slug 7 (three stacks) is accumulated in assembly station 3the sensors 9 detect their presence. The slug 7 is now securelypositioned within assembly station 3. As shown in FIG. 3, conditionerplates 5 squeeze the slug, by moving inward just enough to touch theslug 7, in order to enhance the integrity of the stacks. Theseconditioner plates 5 are each driven by their own pneumatic drivers 11which utilize air cylinders to force the conditioner plates 5 inward.Once the slug 7 is squeezed the collector gates 12 are lowered and theslug 7 proceeds into the buffer station 13.

Responsive to signals from the sensors 9 indicating that the slug 7 ispresent, the conditioner plates 5 are activated to squeeze the slug 7.In the preferred embodiment, three optical sensors are used to detectthe presence of the slug 7 within assembly station 3. However, in analternative embodiment, one sensor may replace the set of three. Thisone sensor would count the number of stacks that pass. Once three stackswere counted, the single sensor would send signals for conditionerplates 5 to squeeze the slug 7, and after a brief delay, for collectorgates 12 to be lowered.

The buffer station 13 is structurally substantially the same as theassembly station 3. In normal operations, however, the slug 7 will passstraight through the buffer station 13 without stopping. The collectorgates 12 are thus normally lowered so that they are unobtrusive.However, if the stacking device is ejecting stacks at too high a rate, abuffer may be needed in order for the collector 20 to keep up with therate at which stacks are being ejected onto conveyor 1. In such ascenario, collector gates 12 will be raised once an appropriate signalis received. Conditioner plates 5 will squeeze the slug 7, and then theslug will finally be permitted to proceed to the collector 20.

As an optional feature of the present invention, as illustrated in FIG.1, slugs 7 enter the collector 20 from two directions. Conveyor belt 1extends perpendicularly from the collector 20 on both sides. Thus asecond assembly station 4 and a second buffer station 14 are needed toseparate a second stacker from the collector 20. The system controlswill be programmed, as is well known in the art, to coordinate thetiming of slugs 7 on both sides in order to assure that multiple slugsare not received at the collector 20 simultaneously. This alternativeembodiment is particularly useful when the processing rate of thecollector 20 exceeds the capacity of a single stacking device.

Referring to FIGS. 4-8, the collection chamber 22 is illustrated invarious stages of operation. As shown in FIGS. 1, and 4, the collector20 includes a movable back plate 17, a fixed wall 19, a compressionplate 21, a container 25, a pusher plate 41, a movable table 43,photo-eye sensors 45, a pneumatic pin driver 47, and pins 49. The pins49, and the pneumatic pin driver 47 are permanently affixed to movingback plate 17. The collection chamber 22 is comprised of the following:movable back plate 17, fixed wall 19, compression plate 21, and pusherplate 41.

Initially, conveyor 1 positions slug 7 on movable table 43, in betweenpusher plate 41 and movable back plate 17. Movable table 43 is depictedin FIG. 4 in its "home" position. As more slugs 7 are received, movabletable 43 will correspondingly extend outward along with attached movableback plate 17. Movable table 43 is electric motor driven. The photo-eyesensors 45 situated above collection chamber 22 detect the presence ofslugs on conveyor 1 adjacent to pusher plate 41 and within collectionchamber 22. These sensors 45 are utilized to control the distance thatmovable table 43 is to be displaced, and coordinate the extension ofpusher plate 41 and displacement of movable table 43.

Insertable pins 49, which are driven by pneumatic driver 47, couple andde-couple movable back plate 17 to movable table 43. In the homeposition, movable back plate 17 and movable table 43 are coupled. Apneumatic device (not depicted) drives pusher plate 41. Photo-eyesensors 45 align the top portion of the collector 20. These sensors 45detect the presence of the movable table 43 beneath it. As will bediscussed in more detail below, when the movable table 43 reaches itsmost extended position, illustrated in FIG. 7, sensors 45 cause a signalto be sent to pneumatic pin driver 47 to decouple pin 49 from slidingboard 43 thereby decoupling movable back plate 17 from movable table 43.

Referring to FIG. 5, pusher plate 41 has laterally moved slug 7 into thecollection chamber 22. Movable back plate 17 and pusher plate 41 providelateral support for the free standing slug 7 to prevent it from topplingover. As discussed earlier, to minimize bottom copy damage, the nose ofthe bottom half 37 of slug 7 is aligned so that it points in thedirection of lateral movement. Thus, the nose points in the samedirection that pusher plate 41 moves the slug 7. Further, when movabletable 43 is later removed from beneath a complete layer of slugs 7, thetable 43 traverses the bottom copies from nose to edge. This is alsoimportant in minimizing bottom copy damage.

Referring to FIG. 6, movable table 43 has now been extended from thehome position by a distance equal to the width of the slug 7. Movableback plate 17 has similarly moved an equal distance. Pusher plate 41 hasreturned to the home position. Referring to FIG. 6A, as the next slug 7is pushed into the collection chamber 22 it is laterally secured betweenpusher plate 41 and the slug which immediately preceded it into thecollection chamber 22. Referring to FIG. 6B, the movable back plate 17and movable table 43 move in conjunction with the pusher plate 41, as itpushes the second slug into the collection chamber 22 adjacent to thefirst slug. Pusher plate 41 then returns to its home position to pushthe third slug against the second slug in the collection chamber 22.

Eventually, a full layer of four slugs 7 will be collected on top ofmovable table 43. This scenario is depicted in FIG. 7. At this point,pusher plate 41 and compression plate 21 squeeze the four slugs (twelvestacks) against movable back plate 17 and fixed wall 19 in order tofurther assure the integrity of the stacks. These four walls comprisethe collection chamber 22. An overhead view of the full collectionchamber 22 is depicted in FIG. 8. This view reveals a four by threematrix of newspaper stacks which comprise a layer in the collectionchamber 22.

Referring to FIG. 9, photo-eye sensors 45 detect that the movable table43 is fully extended and enable a signal to be sent to pneumatic pindriver 47 to remove pins 49 from movable table 43. Thus movable backplate 17 is decoupled from movable table 43. Movable table 43 returns toits home position. Meanwhile, movable back plate 17 remains in its mostextended position from home. As movable table 43 is pulled back to home,the slugs 7 sitting on it sequentially drop onto floating board 23 ofcontainer 25.

According to the preferred embodiment, the sensors 45 are of thephoto-eye variety. However, an encoder can readily be applied therebyobviating the need for the sensors 45. This encoder would count thenumber of revolutions of the electric motor (not depicted) driving themovable table 43. Each revolution of the motor corresponds to a discretelateral movement of movable table 43. Thus, the encoder could calculate,beforehand, the number of revolutions that must occur before the movabletable is to be returned to home.

Advantageously, floating board 23 is able to be move vertically withincontainer 25 by the use of four air cylinder lifts 51, shown in FIG. 9.According to the preferred embodiment, floating board 23 is initiallyraised to a height that is less than three inches below movable table43. This small distance between floating board 23 and movable table 43minimizes distortions to the stacks resulting from the free fall ontothe floating board 23.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 16, the unique floating board 23 mechanism andthe container 25 will now be described in more detail. The container 25has walls on four sides a ledge 64 extending inward along the bottom ofeach side and a floating board 23 (floor). The floating board 23 issimply a flat board with slightly smaller dimensions than the container25 in which it is housed. Legs 61 extend from the bottom of thecontainer 25 and lift the container off of the ground so as to define aspace 52 to enable the container 25 to be handled by a fork lift. Thefloating board 23, in its bottom most position, is supported by aplurality of stand-offs 63 which create gap 53 between the floatingboard 23 and the bottom of container 25. These stand-offs 63 catch andsupport the floating board 23 when it is in its lowest position. Ledge64 extends inward along the bottom of container 25 and provides thesurface on which stand-offs 63 are situated. Ledge 64 prevents thefloating board 23 from falling through the bottom of the container 25which is open. By resting the floating board 23 on stand-offs 63, thefloating board 23 is raised above the bottom of the container 25,thereby creating gap 53. Two slots 62 extend from the bottom to the topof front side 92 of container 25. As shown in FIG. 14, these slots 62enable prongs 59 to be inserted therein in order to raise floating board23 to access the newspapers stored within container 25.

Referring to FIG. 13, container 25 is shown positioned within collector20 in a sunken position in pit 34. In a sub-pit (not depicted), fourlong extendible air cylinders 51 are connected to a flat sub-plate. InFIG. 9 these cylinders 51 are shown extending from an area below thebottom of the container up to a point that is only a few inches belowthe movable table 43. These pneumatically driven cylinders 51 elevatethe sub-plate. This sub-plate is raised so that its top contacts thebottom of floating board 23. In this way, the elevation of the floatingboard 23 within the container 25 is controlled.

Referring to FIG. 10, once the entire layer of slugs 7 has dropped ontofloating board 23, the board 23 is lowered by a distance equal to theheight of a slug 7. Lowering floating board 23 by this distancemaintains the same short drop (less than three inches) between movabletable 43 and the top of the first layer of slugs. Movable back plate 17is automatically returned to its home position, and the first slug 7 ofthe second layer is received.

Referring to FIG. 13, three photo-eye sensors 67 positioned oncross-member 65 of collector 20 operate in conjunction with reflectorsattached to conveyor side 69 to detect for the appropriate time to lowerthe floating board 23. The photo-eyes 67 and reflectors are located onthe same vertical plane directly opposite to each other. Thesephoto-eyes 67 look across the top portion of container 25 for reflectorswhich are aligned directly across from them.

When the floating board 23 is in its top most position (three inchesbelow movable table 43) photo-eyes 67 can see the reflectors. However,after the first layer of slugs are dropped onto floating board 23 thatview is blocked. In response, the floating board 23 is lowered until aheight is reached in which the photo-eyes 67 can again see thereflectors. This distance is equal to the height of a slug 7 ofnewspapers. This process repeats itself until the container 25 isfilled, at which time that full container is passed along conveyor 27 tonesting station 31, and a new container is placed within collector 20.When the floating board 23 is in its lowest position, the sub-plate andits attached air cylinders are in a sub-pit below pit 34. Thus, the pathof the new container into collector 20 is not obstructed.

FIG. 11 depicts the movable table 43 being returned to the home positionafter a complete layer has been positioned on top of it. As shown, asecond layer of slugs drops from the movable table 43 on top of a firstlayer which is situated within container 25 on floating board 23.

FIG. 12 illustrates a full container 25. At this stage container 25 hasbeen filled with the requisite number of layers of slugs. Floating board23 has descended to its lowest position. Note that even in this bottomposition, there is a gap 53 between floating board 23, and ledge 64 atthe bottom of the container 25.

Referring to FIG. 1, a second conveyor 27 is housed within sub-surfacepit 34. The conveyor 27 has three stations associated with it: thede-nesting station 33; collector 20; and the nesting station 31. The pit34 is necessary in order to enable a container 25 travelling alongconveyor 27 from de-nesting station 33 to collector 20 to avoid makingcontact with compression plate 21.

Referring to FIG. 13, a full container 25 has been transported from thecollector 20 to nesting station 31. This station 31 will stack twocontainers 25 on top of each other. This is accomplished by a hydrauliclift which raises the container 25 to a position above nesting pins 55.In the home position, the nesting pins 55 do not protrude into the pathof container 25 as it is lifted. However, once container 25 has beenlifted to a sufficient height above nesting pins 55, the pins 55 areactivated and are extended inward to support the container 25. Container25 is then lowered down to a resting position on pins 55.

According to the preferred embodiment these nesting pins 55 arecontrolled by proximity switches. However, it will readily beappreciated by those skilled in the art that alternative switches andsensors could be substituted without departing from the scope of theinvention.

Referring to FIG. 14, a forklift 57 is depicted along with a stack oftwo filled containers 25 housed within nesting station 31. Legs 61elevate the bottom of container 25 off of the ground. This enablesforklift 57 to insert its prongs 59 beneath the container 25. Forklift57 can then raise the two filled containers 25 from nesting station 31and transport them to their next destination.

Significantly, the floating board 23 within container 25, does notcontact the bottom of container 25 thereby creating a gap 53. This gap53 enables the prongs 59 of forklift 57 to be inserted therein in orderto raise the newspapers out of the container 25. Two slots 62 whichextend vertically from the bottom to the top of the container 25 providethe prongs 59 with an unobstructed vertical path within the container25. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of filled container 25 wherebyprong 59 is elevating the load to enable access to the top layer ofnewspapers. A variety of inserts may be added to the newspapersindividually. Having the stacks of newspapers untied enhances theefficiency of the insertion process by eliminating the need forconsumables which are used to fasten stacks. Once the top layer has beenremoved, prong 59 will be raised by an amount equal to the height of aslug 7 to enable access to the second layer of newspapers. This processcontinues until all of the newspapers have been removed from container25.

As disclosed herein, the present invention provides an improved bulkhandling device. Although the present invention has been described withreference to FIGS. 1-16, it will be appreciated that variousmodifications to the system illustrated in FIGS. 1-16 would not departfrom the inventive concepts disclosed herein. For example, the bulkhandling apparatus can readily be applied to the stacking of otherobjects requiring lateral support such as magazines, mail, etc. withoutsignificantly modifying the apparatus as disclosed.

The following is claimed:
 1. A container for holding a plurality ofstacked articles, comprising:four side walls, said side walls definingan interior and a bottom of said container; a board horizontallydisposed and vertically moveable within said interior, said board havinga bottom surface; supports positioned on said side walls near saidbottom of said container such that said board rests on said supports andsaid bottom surface of said board is above said bottom of said containerwhen said board is at its lowest position in said container; and atleast two vertical openings defined in one of said side walls, saidvertical openings having a bottom edge extending to below said bottomsurface of said board at its lowest position, thereby defining a gapbetween said bottom surface of said board and said bottom edge of saidvertical openings for insertion of a lifting tool through said one ofsaid side walls to raise said board at its lowest position.
 2. Thecontainer as in claim 1 wherein said vertical openings terminates abovesaid bottom of said container.
 3. The container as in claim 2 furthercomprising legs extending from said bottom of said container forelevating said bottom of said container above a plane on which said legsrest so that a space is defined between said bottom of said containerand said plane for insertion of a tool for lifting said container. 4.The container as in claim 1 further comprising:a ledge attached to eachof said four side walls, said ledge at said bottom of said container andextending into said interior.
 5. A container for holding a plurality ofstacked articles, comprising:a plurality of legs; a plurality of sidesdefining an interior of said container, said sides connected to andsupported by said legs; a board horizontally disposed and verticallymoveable within said interior, said board having a bottom surface; meansfor supporting said bottom surface of said board when said board is atits lowest position in said container; and a vertical opening in a firstside extending to below said bottom surface of said board at its lowestposition for insertion of a lifting tool through said vertical openingto raise said board.
 6. The container as in claim 5 wherein saidvertical opening terminates above said bottom edge of said one side. 7.The container as in claim 6, further comprising:two vertical openings insaid first side for insertion of said lifting tool.
 8. The container asin claim 5 further comprising:legs extending from said bottom of saidcontainer for elevating said bottom of said container above a plane onwhich said legs rest so that a space is defined between said bottom ofsaid container and said plane for insertion of a tool for lifting saidcontainer.